Bolts Extend F Tom Pyatt for Two Years

TAMPA BAY â€“ The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed forward Tom Pyatt[4] for two years, Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced. He is now signed through the 2013-14 season.

Pyatt, 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, has played in 35 games for the Lightning this season, recording three goals and five points while averaging 13:11 in ice time per game. He currently ranks third among all Tampa Bay forwards in average shorthanded ice time per game with 2:18 and tied for fourth in blocked shots with 20. His three goals this season are a career high. Pyatt has played in 136 career NHL games with the Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. He has recorded seven goals and 17 points in his career with 23 penalty minutes. Pyatt also played in 25 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, all with Montreal, registering two goals and four points, averaging 12:10 in ice time.

A native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Pyatt has played in 156 career AHL games with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Hamilton Bulldogs. He has registered 32 goals and 83 points. Pyatt set career highs in 2008-09 with 15 goals and 37 points in 73 games with Hartford.

Pyatt played junior hockey with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League from 2003-07. During his career in Saginaw, Pyatt accumulated 94 goals and 200 points with 82 penalty minutes. He also played in 10 postseason games, notching four goals and 11 points. Pyatt was given the William Hanley Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player in the OHL in both 2006-07 and 2003-04. He was named to the Western Conference All-Star team on two occasions, including being named MVP of the game in 2006. Pyatt was named the best defensive forward in OHLâ€™s Western Conference during the 2005-06 season.

Pyatt was drafted by the New York Rangers in the fourth round, 107th overall, of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by Montreal, along with Scott Gomez and Michael Busto, on June 30, 2009 in exchange for Chris Higgins, Doug Janik[5], Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko.